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Upton Loyalty Day Parade

By Shelley Ryan Staff Reporter · May 10, 2010

Caption: Upton ballplayers of all ages enjoyed marching in the town's Loyalty Day parade.

Sunday, April 25, Upton celebrated Loyalty Day, a day of national observance set aside for the recognition of the heritage of American freedom, with a parade down Main Street and opening ceremonies for the 2010 baseball and softball season. Included in the festivities were speeches, the National Anthem sung by Meaghan Roche, a Freshman at Nipmuc High School, andfamily, friends and baseball games.

Everyone from the Minors to the Majors was on hand to march in the parade in their uniforms from Memorial School to the VFW. According to Karen Rogers, volunteer coordinator for Upton's Loyalty Day celebrations VFW members rode in a Model T in the parade accompanied by several drummers from the Miscoe Hill School band. Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion also marched in uniform along with the Upton Police and Fire and respective vehicles. "There were 300 children including T-ball/Instructional, Double AA, Minors, Majors, and Softball," Rogers said.

The ballplayers participated in a Home Run Derby, which was run by Christine and JP Corey. Rogers expressed a special thanks to all of the people that volunteered their time to make the Loyalty Day events possible. "They helped pull it off without a hitch," she commented, "I truly appreciate their support." Rogers also thanked the Country Sooper, which donated ice and Holy Angels Church for the loan of their tables and tablecloths. Everyone also enjoyed hot dogs, burgers, pizza, pretzels, and snow cones at the VFW after the parade.

As part of the festivities, Pulte Homes of New England, developer of the Glen Echo property on North Street presented a $67,000 check to David Adams, Chairman of the Upton Recreation Committee. Pulte Homes has built new homes for 59 families off North Street in Upton at Glen Echo Estates over the past three years. This donation is to be used for improvements to the Howard Leland Memorial Field.

"We are happy to contribute these funds as a community gift, to assist the Recreation Committee in providing high quality playing fields for the youth of Upton, so they may continue to benefit from fresh air, exercise, and the camaraderie of team sports," said Reid Blute, of Pulte Homes of New England LLC.

Caption: Reid Blute, Land Manager for New England for Pulte Homes handing the big check to Dave Adams, who accepted the check on behalf of the Upton Recreation Committee.